Cerminara

Dana Cerminara may be a little behind the incoming freshman class at Thiel College when it comes to age.

But the Seneca Valley graduate isn't planning on being behind in talent when she steps on the soccer field.

Cerminara, a Cranberry Township resident who won't turn 18 until August, has elected to attend Thiel College in Greenville and to play on the women's soccer team.

"Their coach (Jeurell Smith) contacted me about playing soccer for him," said Cerminara. "And I took a trip to the campus back in March. It's really beautiful up there."

"I noticed the way she can distribute the ball and she has great vision on the field," said Smith, who will be entering his first season as the Tomcats' head coach next fall.

Cerminara was a member of the Seneca Valley girls soccer team for four years as a stopper, a position she has also manned for Northern Steel for several seasons.

But Cerminara said she will be playing center midfield at Thiel.

Northern Steel coach Blair Gerlach said Cerminara will be able to make the transition without much trouble.

"It won't be that difficult," said Gerlach. "She's played a bit (at center midfield) for me the last few years. She's more of a defensive-minded player, but it's just a matter of playing 10 or 15 yards in front of where she's used to."

Since Cerminara won't turn 19 until August 2008, she plans to balance her courses at Thiel with one final season with Northern Steel next spring.

And Gerlach is fine with that.

"The fact that she is planning on playing for Northern Steel next spring just shows the commitment she has," he said.

"Last year, the Northern Steel team I played for finished second at nationals," Cerminara said. "I was able to compete there and I figured I could play in college."

Cerminara will be one of nine freshmen joining Thiel, which is looking for some new faces to spark a program that went 1-16-1 last season.

"We're looking to be a lot more competitive," said Smith. "Hopefully, we can turn the close losses from last season into wins or ties this year."

Cerminara, who plans to major in biology, is hoping to play a key role in the Tomcats' rise up the Presidents' Athletic Conference standings.

"(Thiel) has 12 returning players and a lot of incoming freshmen," she said of her chances of starting in her first season. "We'll see how it goes."